New and never-before-seen Borden items, post-mortem pictures on exhibit at Historical Society

Never-before-seen post-mortem photographs and shocking new details about Andrew and Abby Borden are on display at the Fall River Historical Society along with other rare items being exhibited for the first time.

“Echoes of Lizzie,” a temporary exhibit, is on display to mark the 120th anniversary on Saturday of the internationally known Borden murder mystery.

Never-before-seen post-mortem photographs and shocking new details about Andrew and Abby Borden are on display at the Fall River Historical Society along with other rare items being exhibited for the first time.

“Echoes of Lizzie,” a temporary exhibit, is on display to mark the 120th anniversary on Saturday of the internationally known Borden murder mystery.

The Fall River Historical Society, 451 Rock St., is home to the largest collection of Borden case artifacts. This year, there are four cases of Borden memorabilia, original photos, trial exhibits and personal items on display, including a rare photograph of Lizzie Borden at age 56.

“Here’s some of the physical evidence,” said Michael Martins, Historical Society curator.

In one case is Abby Borden’s kerchief and the pillow shams that were on the bed she was making when she was killed with a hatchet. Her braid is also on display, as is a sample of her blood in a glass vial.

The post-mortem photos are in this case and show just how brutal were the murders of Abby and her husband Andrew.

Abby suffered 19 whacks of the hatchet, and Andrew received 11. Clearly, the murderer was out to kill, as the hatchet went through tissue and met with their skulls over and over again.

Lizzie Borden was charged with the murder of her father and step-mother and acquitted the following year. But time has not eased the public’s quest to learn who killed the Bordens.

The post-mortem photograph of Abby is taken from behind. Several of the wounds from the hatchet are visible.

There’s another twist to the story. The highly circulated photograph of Abby laying dead on the floor between the bed and bureau of the upstairs guest bedroom is not actually the way she was found directly after the murder, according to new evidence.

Some of the information from the Historical Society’s recently acquired journals of Andrew Jackson Jennings, a member of Lizzie Borden’s defense team and the Borden family lawyer, never made it to Lizzie’s trial.

“We now know that when Abby Borden’s body was discovered, she was partially under the bed, which is not evident in the photographs of the crime scene that were taken the day of the murders and presented as evidence during the trial,” Martins said. “Clearly, her body had been moved before the images were taken. This is completely new material and important.”

Martins said the journals, which are also being displayed for the first and perhaps only time, give a plethora of “personal insight” into the day-to-day lives of the Bordens.

The Historical Society said the journals are very delicate and will soon be sent off to be preserved. For that reason, they will only be displayed for a short time.

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“In planning the exhibit, our intention was to present rarely seen original trial exhibits, recently discovered primary source material and artifacts — including personal material pertaining to Lizzie — in order to tell the Borden story, in effect, her story, without the legend, innuendo and supposition that has clouded the reality of events as they actually occurred,” Historical Society Assistant Curator Dennis Binette said.

The post-mortem photograph of Andrew Borden was clearly taken after his stomach was removed. The photo was taken in the sitting room where he was murdered. Andrew is laying on a stretcher. It is taken from the side. His chest is bare and the slice on his stomach clear. The trauma to his head is evident. One must take a very good look to make out the outline of his nose, his ear, and his eye. Much of his face and head is indistinguishable due to the blood and many lacerations.

Martins said the society has been hesitant to display the post-mortem photographs.

“Obviously, the images are very sensitive, both in subject and in their physical condition,” Martins said.

He said they chose to exhibit the photos to lend a sense of reality to the Borden mystery.

“The story has been sensationalized over the years to nearly outlandish proportions, and we thought it was important to display the actual images in order to emphasize the fact that this was a horrific crime, and that the two victims were sent to their deaths under appalling circumstances,” Martins said. “Sadly, this fact is often overlooked.”

Martins and Binette — authors of the award-winning book “Parallel Lives,” about Lizzie Borden and her Fall River — will personally lead tours of the exhibit hourly from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for children.

“Echoes of Lizzie” will be on display through Sunday, Sept. 30. For more information, call 508-679-1071, Exts. 1 or 2.